Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the India–Australia CEO Forum and the India–Australia Economic Roadmap Business Event held in Melbourne on July 9, 2026. According to reports from MC_ENG_NEWS, the event brought together top business leaders, industry executives, and policymakers to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. The forum was held alongside wide-ranging talks on defence, trade, investment, education, mobility, critical technologies, sports and people-to-people ties between PM Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The forum was designed to strengthen economic cooperation, trade, investment, innovation, and strategic partnerships between India and Australia. As reported by MC_ENG_NEWS, the event provided a platform for business leaders and policymakers to discuss opportunities for enhanced bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors. PM Modi made significant remarks at the forum, pitching India as a long-term investment destination for Australian businesses and calling for the early conclusion of the proposed bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
On the same day, India and Australia adopted a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, committing to significantly deepen military engagement amid growing geostrategic uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific region. The declaration, adopted by PM Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese, outlines an ambitious roadmap to elevate defence ties through closer strategic consultations, enhanced interoperability between the armed forces, expanded military exercises and greater collaboration in defence science, technology and industrial supply chains. This represents a significant escalation in bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.
The event featured participation from top business leaders, industry executives, and policymakers from both India and Australia. According to MC_ENG_NEWS, the forum provided a high-profile platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions about strengthening economic ties between the two countries. PM Modi and PM Albanese jointly addressed the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Roadmap Business event, demonstrating the high-level commitment from both governments to strengthening bilateral economic and strategic partnerships.
